Arborist Letter - Tree Removals - 18920 Forge Drive - 2021.06.23 Arbor ell.
professional tree management
June 23, 2021
City of Cupertino
10300 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, California 95014
Re: Live Tree Removals at 18920 Forge Drive, Cupertino, CA
To whom it may concern,
This letter intends to address six (6) live trees located in the landscaping directly adjacent to the
building on the 18920 Forge Drive property in Cupertino, California. Please see Exhibit 1.1 for the
relative locations of the subject trees. The trees are live trees but will need to be removed and
replaced.
Metric for the trees are as follows:
Number Species Trunk Diameter Condition
1 Coast Redwood 36" Good
2 Japanese Maple 4" Good
3 Southern Live Oak 5" Good
4 Modesto Ash 13" Poor
5 Southern Live Oak 5" Good
6 London Plane 4" Good
Tree 1 is a large Coast Redwood that is growing too close to the building. According to Bagg
Engineering, the tree's root system is causing both irregular subsidence and lifting to the adjacent
building, due to shrink/swell characteristics of the soil. Bagg would like its removal to mitigate further
damage to the building. I support their recommendation for removal as the tree has outgrown its
growing space and it is very likely that the damage to the building is caused by the tree's root system,
given that Redwoods have highly invasive root systems and are prone to causing structural damage
to nearby buildings.
In addition, concrete curb and paving, landscape, and growing space is planned to be removed and
replaced/renovated within several feet from Trees 2-6. Trees 2, 3, & 5 require removal to repair the
foundation of the building and as the the engineer recommends that no trees be planted or allowed
to grow next to the building foundation due to the existing site's shrink/swell soil characteristics. The
trees are shallow rooted from being surface irrigated and the trees have developed extensive surface
roots. I recommend these trees be removed and replaced as they have little chance for survival
during the repairs. They will not be replaced as the landscape area is being removed.
Trees 4 & 6 will need to be removed because the parking layout is proposed to be adjusted. There
will be perpendicular parking stalls next to the building, shifting the drive aisle away from the building,
which will require the removal of the trees. The planting area for 4 & 6 will be removed as they are
located within the footprint of the proposed drive aisle and the trees are not recommended for
retention based on their condition (Tree 4) and size (Tree 6).
The trees are considered protected pursuant to Section 14.18.035 of the City of Cupertino's
Municipal Code and requires a permit from the City's Planning Department prior to their removal.
We ask for permission to remove the trees based on the following criteria:
2337 AMERICAN AVE, HAYWARD, CA 94545 OFFICE: (888)969-8733
1993 EAST BAYSHORE ROAD, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063 DIRECT: (925)518-2028
SOAKLEY@ARBO RW ELL.CO M
Arbor ell.
professional tree management
1. That the free or trees are irreversibly diseased,are in danger of falling,can cause potential damage to existing or proposed essential structures,or
interferes with private on•sita utildy services and cannot be cuntrollad or remedied Through reasonable rolocation or m❑difi alion of tho siructum or uti lily services;
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2. That the location of the trees restricts th9 eccnomic onjoympnl of the property by severely limiling the use of property in o manner not typically experienced
by owners of similarly zoned and situated property,and the applicant has demonstraled to the salisfaction of the approval authority that(here are no reasonable
altsmalives to preserve the Iree(s).
The replacement trees cannot reasonably be planted on the subject property, as the property is
currently overplanted. The subject trees' existing planting areas are being removed and the
perimeter landscape area is already overplanted with redwood screening. Adding replacement trees
to the perimeter would result in their removal within a few years as overcrowded growing conditions
produce weakly structured trees prone to disease and breakage. To mitigate the removals, we are
planning for the in-lieu fee option instead of replacement for the following reasons:
Tree 1 — not enough space next to the building where trees are not recommended due to
shrink/swell soil characteristics;
Trees 2, 3, & 5 — the planting area is being removed and there is not enough space for
growth at maturity elsewhere on the property to replace the trees;
Tree 4&6—the drive aisle is shifting and the planting area for these trees is being removed.
There is not enough space for growth at maturity elsewhere on the property to replace the
trees.
The in-lieu fee for a mature specimen tree with trunk size equal to or less than thirty-six (36)
inches,is based upon the purchase and installation cost of the replacement tree as determined
by the Director of Community Development. The following replacement totals can be used
to help facilitate this determination.
Number Trunk Diameter Replacement
1 36" 2 24" box or 1 36" box
2 4" 1 - 24" box
3 5" 1 - 24" box
4 13" 2 24" box or 1 36" box
5 5" 1 - 24" box
6 4" 1 - 24" box
Total 8 24"box OR
4 24"box and 2 36"box
Please review this information and contact me with any questions or concerns regarding the
information provided in this letter.
Sincerely,
Samuel Oakley
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, WE-9474B TRAQ
ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist#556
2337 AMERICAN AVE, HAYWARD, CA 94545 OFFICE: (888)969-8733
1993 EAST BAYSHORE ROAD, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063 DIRECT: (925)518-2028
SOAKLEY q@ARBORWELL.COM
Arbor ell.
professional tree management
Exhibit 1.1—Site Map:
The locations of the proposed removals.
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2337 AMERICAN AVE, HAYWARD, CA 94545 OFFICE: (888)969-8733
1993 EAST BAYSHORE ROAD, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063 DIRECT: (925)518-2028
SOAKLEY@ARBORW ELL.COM
Arbor ell.
professional tree management
Exhibit 1.2-Supporting Image:
An image of tree 1.
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1993 EAST BAYSHORE ROAD, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063 DIRECT: (925)518-2028
SOAKLEY@ARBORW ELL.COM
Arbor ell.
professional tree management
Exhibit 1.3-Supporting Image:
An image of tree 2.
2337 AMERICAN AVE, HAYWARD, CA 94545 OFFICE: (888)969-8733
1993 EAST BAYSHORE ROAD, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063 DIRECT: (925)518-2028
SOAKLEY@ARBO RW ELL.CO M
Arbor ell.
professional tree management
Exhibit 1.4-Supporting Image:
An image of tree 3.
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1993 EAST BAYSHORE ROAD, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063 DIRECT: (925)518-2028
SOAKLEY@ARBO RW ELL.CO M
Arbor ell.
professional tree management
Exhibit 1.5-Supporting Image:
An image of tree 4.
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